K9 Protection Dogs in Winston-Salem, NC

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —

Heat Advisory

The Triad's first stretch of extreme heat continues. Humidity will be high and temperatures will reach the low to mid-90s in the afternoon. The resulting heat index values will climb over 100 degrees. A HEAT ADVISORY is in effect for the Piedmont Triad until 7:00 p.m. Thursday.

Humidity levels have dropped a bit since Wednesday, but they are still high enough to push the heat index over 100° on Thursday. A Heat Advisory remains for the Triad until 7 PM. Stay cool and hydrated especially in he afternoon.https://t.co/WDCfKnf8f7 pic.twitter.com/HG691soKL6

— Brian Slocum (@brianslocumwxii) June 26, 2025

Long stretches of hot weather can be extremely dangerous. Heat is the top-ranked weather killer. Emergency room doctors in North Carolina began reporting their first round of patients suffering from heat-related illnesses by the second week of May. Young children, older adults, outdoor workers and others with compromised immune systems or underlying disease are more at risk from heat-related illness. Still, others may be more susceptible to heat illness from being outdoors during the heat wave if they haven't acclimated to the 90s. May highs in the 80s combined with high humidity to bring the heat index or feels like temperatures into the 90s.

While 90s are part of our typical summer temperature swings, there is a chance of an extended stretch of above normal highs in the lower to mid-90s for the last full week of June. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service issue the experimental heat risk forecasts for a 24-hour period during the spring and summer to help outdoor workers, athletes, the elderly, and other at-risk people prepare for the threat of heat-related illnesses. The forecasts are color coded corresponding to heat and health impact levels from 1-4: minor, moderate, major and extreme. Heat-related illness is possible. Make sure that you are paying attention to what your body may be telling you. Know the signs and symptoms of heat illness and be prepared to take action if necessary.

Temperatures will remain in the 90s through the weekend. Returning storm chances this week will help to cool us off a bit as the week progresses.

Are you on the Heat Alert list? Beginning in 2024, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services started a special program. Their North Carolina Climate and Health team started sending residents an alert via email when hot weather may impact health. Sign up for heat alerts here to help plan your summer and prevent heat illness. Residents choosing to receive alerts and subscribe to a county will receive heat alerts when the daily maximum heat index may meet or exceed the heat index threshold for that county’s region. Based on the new heat alert system, the Triad and Piedmont area temperatures need to meet the following thresholds for a heat alert to be issued:

Temperatures also don't have to be what meteorologists might call extreme heat for it to impact your body. The physiological reaction to heat response also depends on the person. Things to consider are how much time will you be exerting yourself outdoors, length of time in direct sunlight, how well hydrated you are prior to heat exposure, and whether you may have underlying health issues. Here are some ways to prepare for the heat.

Adjust activity schedules to be outdoors during the milder hours of the day before 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m.

How hot? Check the latest forecast for the next seven days here. For more on how to prevent dehydration, view this weather story here.

Concerned parents demand reevaluation of Winston-Salem/Forsyth's job cuts aimed at reducing a $42 million deficit.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Emotions ran high Tuesday night as concerned parents and educators packed the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board meeting, voicing frustration over planned job cuts aimed at closing a $42 million budget deficit.

Dozens of attendees took to the podium, urging district leaders to reconsider reductions that would impact positions like media coordinators, teacher assistants, and other student-facing staff.

“These aren’t numbers—they reflect lives and futures,” one speaker said during public comment. “The presence of a media coordinator is not a luxury, it is a necessity,” added another. “Cutting these roles means cutting off access, opportunity, and identity-building.”

Another parent emphasized the community's united stance:

“Black, brown—and now white residents—have spoken loud and clear: we do not support this plan.”

According to district leaders, the plan calls for the elimination of 228 positions across 81 schools—an average of one to three positions per campus. The goal is to reduce spending by $8.75 million, part of a broader strategy to resolve a multi-million dollar financial shortfall.

Among the roles expected to be affected: central office staff, media coordinators, and teacher assistants.

Interim Superintendent Catty Moore said the financial challenges stem from past overspending, particularly in state-funded accounts known as PRCs.

“I think the biggest issue that we have is the dollars that we owe the state for PRCs that were overspent,” Moore explained.

The district is now working with the IRS and state agencies to address the budget shortfall.

District leaders say school principals—not central office administrators—will ultimately decide which positions to cut. Principals have been meeting with area superintendents and human resources to create individual staffing plans.

In a statement, the district said the process is about “positions, not people.” But some parents disagree.

Ashley Wallace, the parent of a student at Sedge Garden Elementary, said the cuts feel deeply personal.

“It is about people—because our kids don’t care what your title is,” Wallace said. “They care that you make their boo-boo feel better, that you help at field day, that you teach them something about a book. That is what they care about—and that is what is important.”

Wallace also criticized the district’s approach, pointing out that student-facing staff are often the ones children connect with most.

“At Sedge Garden, everyone knows my child’s name—whether they’re the teacher, TA, or media coordinator. Cutting these positions is terrible. It’s going to affect the attention and love these children receive.”

District officials say no classroom teachers will be laid off—for now. However, any staff who fail to meet state licensing requirements by the end of June will be terminated.

The community continues to push for transparency and a re-evaluation of priorities. Several speakers called for more administrative cuts and questioned whether enough has been done at the top levels of the district’s leadership.

Principals' finalized staffing plans and submitted proposed cuts will go in effect no later than the 26th.

At Tuesday night’s school board meeting, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools interim superintendent presented a wide-ranging budget update.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is continuing to chip away at its multimillion-dollar budget deficit and projected shortfalls. However, the deficit could grow, and cost-saving measures could have significant implications for school staff.

At Tuesday night’s board of education meeting, interim superintendent Catty Moore provided a budget update, sharing what has been done, what still needs to be done and what remains unknown.

Speaking about this year’s budget deficit, Moore said the district will pay all its vendors by the end of the fiscal year, which ends on June 30. This is with the exception of three vendors whose contracts total $16 million. The district is exploring payment plan options for these vendors. As of Tuesday, one of those vendors has been wired about $800,000.

Moore says one of the biggest budget issues remaining now is at least $18 million in state overages for this year. She did not recommend that the board request that money from Forsyth County Commissioners. However, she floated the idea of the board requesting flexibility from commissioners with capital outlay funds and bond interest earnings.

Looking at next year’s budget, Moore says the district plans to save $44 million. This includes school principals looking at reducing and moving staff for a budget savings of more than $8 million. Moore says all but one school has completed this work, and the board will soon be provided with a list of what has been done. She added that these changes will need to be monitored.

"As early as November, we gather feedback from those that were impacted by some of these changes to help, and begin to identify budget priorities for the next year,” she said.

"I met with principals recently—that association that you have of principals and assistant principals—and I told them, I said, ‘I expect you to demand that the reductions made at school be reinstated,’" Moore continued.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, about a dozen speakers expressed concerns about the elimination of media coordinator positions at several schools. Several current and recently eliminated media coordinators said cutting these positions would have a negative impact on student literacy and urged the board to reconsider these eliminations.

Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, educators and community members expressed concern about the district’s most recent personnel report, which shows the district losing 117 staff members, including 53 teacher terminations.

Moore said these positions are not part of budget reduction efforts. She stated that the terminated staff were operating under alternative licenses and did not meet specific requirements before those licenses expired. She says this happens in many districts every year, and staff who meet licensure requirements after June 30 may be eligible for rehire.

The district is continuing to work with the IRS on federal withholding issues. Moore says all payments were submitted, although some may have been late, which could have resulted in late fees. Additionally, some reports corresponding to payments were not submitted. Moore says the district is in contact with an IRS revenue agent. Currently, it’s unclear whether or how much this could contribute to the deficit.

The district is also working with the State Auditor’s Office, which is conducting an investigative audit and creating a final report. Moore said it’s not known when this report will be done, but anticipates it will detail the following:

"I don't think it'll be a flattering report,” Moore said.

"It will be important for us to look at it from the lens of, ‘How did we get here? How do we never come here again?" she said.

The board adopted an interim budget resolution, which will enable it to operate even though the state legislature has not yet finalized its budget.

Board members also approved a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a search firm to help the district begin its search for a permanent superintendent.

The board will meet next during a special meeting in early July.

Trending Stories

A lottery player coming off a recent big win had a “gut feeling” and bought another ticket in North Carolina.

He won $10 million.

Christopher Sink of Winston-Salem hit the jackpot on a $50 scratch-off ticket in the $10 Million Spectacular game, the North Carolina Education Lottery announced June 27.

“I was really nervous at first,” he told lottery officials. “It was kind of a crazy feeling.”

The new multimillionaire recounted he was at a convenience store when he felt compelled to buy a lottery ticket. Then he beat the 1-in-3,255,582 odds to win one of five top prizes in the scratch-off game.

“It just happened to be my lucky day,” he told lottery officials.

But it wasn’t his only lucky day recently. Sink told the N.C. Education Lottery that he won $10,000 a week earlier on another ticket.

“It’s kind of hard to fathom,” he said. “I’m tickled to death about this.”

He collected his winnings as a lump sum of $6 million and walked away with $4,305,014 after taxes, according to the N.C. Education Lottery.

The construction business owner told lottery officials he plans to use his life-changing prize to buy equipment for work, invest and pay bills.

One top prize of $10 million remains in the game, which debuted in December 2023.

Winston-Salem in Forsyth County is about an 80-mile drive northeast from Charlotte.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

Christopher Sink of Winston-Salem felt an urge to buy a $50 scratch-off on Thursday, and his instinct paid off with a $10 million win.

“Sometimes you have a gut feeling,” he said. “It just happened to be my lucky day.”

Sink, an owner of a construction business, bought his lucky $10 Million Spectacular ticket from KP Food Mart on Old Thomasville Road in Winston-Salem.

“I was really nervous at first,” he said. “It was kind of a crazy feeling.”

After staring at his ticket for a long time, Sink said he started to worry he might lose it.

“I didn’t want the wind to blow it away,” he laughed.

Sink’s big win marks only the second $10 million win in North Carolina so far this year. This win was not his first stroke of good luck though.

“I actually won $10,000 last week on a different ticket,” he said. “It’s kind of hard to fathom.”

When Sink arrived Thursday to collect his winnings, he had a decision to make. He could choose to receive his prize as an annuity of $500,000 a year over 20 years or a lump sum of $6 million. He chose the lump sum of $6 million and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $4,305,014.

“I’m tickled to death about this,” he said.

Sink plans to use his winnings to pay bills, invest, and buy equipment to help his construction business.

The $10 Million Spectacular game debuted in December 2023 with five top prizes of $10 million, 20 prizes of $1 million and 20 prizes of $100,000. One $10 million prize, two $1 million prizes and four $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed.

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